10: I will love you even if I die.

After the song finished, enthusiastic applause and whistles erupted from the audience.

Wu Fan couldn't help but applaud as well.

Several lines of lyrics in that song truly touched Wu Fan's heart deeply.

Wu Fan lit a cigarette and watched the female singer.

Unexpectedly, Fei Wei was already leading her over to this side.

"My close buddy Wu Fan, and the famous female singer and guitarist Qian Ning."

Fei Wei made the introductions enthusiastically.

Wu Fan quickly stood up, "Your rendition of 'Later' just now was incredibly heartfelt."

Wu Fan felt that the word "heartfelt" was a very apt description.

Qian Ning smiled slightly, "Thank you."

She sat down next to him.

Fei Wei asked the Waitress to bring some snacks and fruit, and said to Wu Fan, "Qian Ning has been singing continuously for nearly three hours today, she's strong."

"You two sit for a bit. I'll have Grass Chicken go on stage and belt out a couple of songs to liven up the atmosphere."

Grass Chicken is the bar's drummer. He has a small stake and is considered one of the owners.

He loves music and is somewhat unrestrained, which is evident from his closely cropped hair dyed bright yellow.

Walking on the street, the first impression he gives is either an artist or a musician; in any case, he stands out from the crowd.

Of course, that's the nice way to put it; the ugly way to put it is that he looks like a street loafer, the quintessential hoodlum.

Wu Fan was familiar with him; actually, he wasn't a bad person and was quite easy to get along with.

He was just a bit solitary, not very approachable, and Wu Fan had never seen him date a girlfriend, which was quite unbelievable.

Logically, shouldn't someone like him be dashing and romantic?

Wu Fan simply didn't understand him.

When he was in a bad mood, he liked to furiously pound the drums, seemingly having no other hobbies.

Wu Fan felt he was born to be a fixture in a bar.

Qian Ning poured a glass of red wine, then filled Wu Fan's empty glass as well, and raised hers.

The two clinked glasses; Wu Fan only took a sip, but she drank hers in one gulp.

Wu Fan was a little surprised.

She gave a beautiful smile and said, "It's fine, please help yourself."

Wu Fan blurted out, "Miss Qian Ning, did you come to the bar not to sing, but to heal a wound?"

Qian Ning's eyes lit up, "Just for that sentence, I'll be your friend."

Wu Fan nodded, immediately pulled up his wechat QR code and placed it on the table, remaining silent, just looking at Qian Ning.

Qian Ning smiled and said, "You're really direct."

She pulled out her phone and scanned the QR code.

After adding each other as wechat friends, the two fell into an awkward silence, neither knowing what to say, and maintained their quietude.

Wu Fan shelled sunflower seeds, letting his gaze fall upon the stage.

Grass Chicken was indeed excellent at playing the drums, especially how he handled the drumsticks, twirling them very smoothly.

It felt even smoother than the Ruyi Jingu Bang wielded by Sun Wukong.

When the song ended, there was thunderous applause.

Fei Wei went on stage and immediately announced Wu Fan's name, asking him to sing a song.

He even exaggerated, calling Wu Fan the "Little Prince of High Notes."

This made Wu Fan's pressure double.

After all, today's patrons came for the female singer, so their standards for music would certainly be higher.

Unlike usual, when the audience might consist of fishermen who had just returned from sea, who wouldn't care even if Wu Fan's voice cracked or he messed up the lyrics.

Qian Ning cast an encouraging look toward Wu Fan, which slightly calmed Wu Fan's nervous heart.

He stood up, straightened his clothes, and walked onto the stage.

He pondered in his mind what song to sing.

Since Fei Wei called him the Little Prince of High Notes, he decided to sing a song with extremely high notes—"Love Until Death."

The moment Wu Fan stood on stage, the nervousness in his heart actually vanished.

He did not stand in the center of the stage, choosing instead the two-thirds mark on the right side.

He didn't want the spotlight shining directly on his face.

The lights flickering in the corner made Wu Fan look indistinct.

When the music started, Wu Fan gently closed his eyes... Ignoring whether others approve or disapprove, as long as you bravely follow me, love doesn't need deliberate arrangement, kissing and embracing based on feeling will be joyous, enjoy the present, don't be afraid of getting hurt the moment you open your heart, many miracles only exist if we believe in them, love until death, if it's not thorough, it's not satisfying, only this way is deep enough to express how much I feel...

When the music abruptly stopped, the venue was silent; after waiting for what felt like a few seconds, thunderous applause finally broke out.

Wu Fan's hysterical high notes and his wholehearted emotional delivery were truly shocking.

As Wu Fan walked off the stage, he saw Qian Ning giving him a thumbs-up.

She had already filled a glass of red wine for Wu Fan. "I didn't realize you loved so heartbreakingly; I must toast you."

Wu Fan raised his glass, thought for a moment, and said, "Because I no longer love, I can sing without fear."

His words clearly made Qian Ning pause.

Both of them drank the wine in one go.

Qian Ning's mood seemed to become a little downcast, perhaps because Wu Fan's words about "no longer loving" struck a chord with her.

For the rest of the time, the two didn't talk much. When 12:30 arrived, Wu Fan prepared to go home.

The tourists still had one scenic spot to visit tomorrow morning, and then they would leave after lunch.

Since he had to drive in the morning, Wu Fan didn't dare stay out too late.

Fei Wei held Wu Fan's hand and said, "If you're free tomorrow night, come sit again. Oh wait, I mean tonight, it's already past midnight."

After he finished speaking, he laughed loudly.

Wu Fan looked up at Qian Ning, nodded, and considered it an agreement.

Qian Ning smiled faintly, raised her hand, and waved at Wu Fan, which counted as saying goodbye.

When Wu Fan got home, he didn't wash up; he grabbed a thick quilt, lay directly on the sofa, and fell asleep.

The next day, he was woken up by his alarm clock.

Since the tourists had to leave early in the morning, Wu Fan had no choice but to get up early.

He went out and bought some breakfast, and after eating with Yaoyao, he dropped her off at the kindergarten early.

Wu Fan frequently gave cigarettes to the kindergarten security guard.

When he was busy, he often had to drop Yaoyao off early, which was unavoidable.

Fortunately, Yaoyao was very sensible and obedient, never crying or making a fuss.

After arriving at the kindergarten, she would play by herself for a while in the playground activity area or play with toys inside the classroom.

On this point, Wu Fan felt deeply relieved yet deeply remorseful.

Pressed by life, he was often unable to act according to his own will.

Wu Fan's desire to hire a Nanny grew stronger and stronger.

But when he recalled the crimes of malicious Nannies in the news—such as giving children sleeping pills or feeding them regurgitated food—he became hesitant again.

He put a cigarette in his mouth, lit it, and blew a puff of smoke toward the sky.

Zhang Yingying called, "Brother Fan, do you want me to bring a rice ball?"

"No need, I've eaten."

"Then I'll bring you a cup of freshly ground soy milk." Before Wu Fan could reply, she had already hung up.

After Wu Fan got onto the bus, he first tidied up. The tourists' behavior was decent; there was basically no trash.

When he drove to Wanghai Plaza, Zhang Yingying hadn't arrived yet.

Wu Fan subconsciously looked toward the center of the plaza; the snowman that Chen Lu and Yaoyao had built together had actually been mutilated beyond recognition.

Was all the beauty in the world truly this fleeting?